Madison, Wis. – This week, IRG Action Fund launched a major grassroots advocacy campaign to educate residents in Beloit and Janesville on how Governor Tony Evers’ policies have failed their public schools. Through a series of targeted postcards and digital ads, IRG Action is highlighting the struggles of the public schools in Beloit and Janesville, despite historic increases in spending

This campaign is in response to the release of the 2021-2022 Department of Public Instruction test scores on September 29, 2022 that shows how statewide reading and math scores continue to plummet. Using that data, IRG Action’s unique public advocacy campaign educates taxpayers in Janesville and Beloit on how far students in those districts have fallen in the core competencies of math and reading during Tony Evers time as State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Governor.

With K-12 education set to be one of the biggest issues in January when the legislative session begins, IRG Action will be educating as many people as possible across the state about the grim realities of Wisconsin’s K-12 school system and mobilizing them to call their lawmakers to effect real, systemic change that turns our struggling schools around.

Key facts highlighted in the campaign:

  • Only 13% of Beloit students are college/career-ready in reading and 10% are college/career-ready in math.
  • The School District of Beloit has the lowest reading proficiency in Wisconsin.
  • Only 38% of Janesville students are college/career-ready in reading.
  • Just 1 out of every 3 students are proficient in math in Janesville, despite the state spending $370,000 per classroom.

From CJ Szafir, CEO of IRG Action:

“The underperformance of the Janesville and Beloit school districts is simply unacceptable, and parents deserve to know the truth about how far their children are being left behind. The failed status quo gives us fewer and fewer graduates ready for the workforce, to build up our communities, and to give Rock County a brighter future.

“It’s time for the taxpayers of Beloit and Janesville to make their voices heard which is why we’re asking them to call Governor Evers and insist on real accountability, putting parents first, and common-sense reforms to save our schools. Until this happens, IRG Action will continue educating as many people as we can about the realities of Wisconsin’s school system, and mobilizing them to call their lawmakers to effect real, systemic change that turns our struggling schools around.”

Click here to view the postcard sent to Janesville residents and here for the postcard sent to Beloit residents.

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